Get up, show up and stand up this NAIDOC Week in Ipswich
04 July 2022
NAIDOC Week is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the city’s diverse culture on the lands of the Jagera, Yuggera and Ugarapul peoples.
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said NAIDOC Week reminds us to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and to take the opportunity to Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up! (as per this year’s theme), and to learn about the oldest, continuous living cultures on Earth.
“Our city looks forward to celebrating our Indigenous communities, leaders and legends - from retired tennis champion Ash Barty to acclaimed local artist Kylie Hill, Jacob Sarra, Jarryd Lawton and Jennifer Kent who’s work will feature in SPARK Ipswich’s centrepiece event deLight 7 to 10 July,” Mayor Harding said.
“We also recognise the ongoing work needed for reconciliation, and council’s 2020-2025 Indigenous Accord provides a framework for collaboration and co-operation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and Ipswich City Council.
“It establishes a common vision, which Indigenous communities of Ipswich have had an active role in shaping and participating in reconciliation and will have a critical role in bringing meaningful progress in our community.”
Ipswich City Council also endeavours to demonstrate leadership my implementing its 2020-2025 Indigenous Accord, and this year it has reached a range of milestones identified in the document, including:
- Establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employee Working Group, which will ensure the workplace is a culturally safe and supporting environment
- Awarding the Regional Arts Development Fund to Sharron mirii Bell to deliver the Mawang Buwanha project, an educational video about country, language and our native flora and fauna through First Nations storytelling
- Awarding the Viva Cribb Bursary award to Goodna Special School to support a project to embed First Nations language, learning and history in their school, and
- Funding a Murri Cultural Camp, where 40 young people engaged with local elders at the Ivory Rocks Convention Centre.
Community, Culture, Arts and Sport Committee Chairperson Councillor Andrew Fechner said NAIDOC Week is a time to celebrate the many who have driven and led change in our community.
“Across countless generations, the Jagera, Yuggera and Ugarapul peoples living in the area now known as Ipswich have shared their stories and culture and made their indelible and undeniable mark on the 65,000 plus year history of human settlement in Australia,” Cr Fechner said.
“Recognising and celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander role models and leaders is incredibly important because you can’t be what you can’t see.
“Council will be hosting a free Family and Cultural Celebration at the Briggs Road Sporting Complex on Thursday 7 July 2022.
“There are a number of other events such as engaging Indigenous storytellers at the Children’s Library; facilitating Black Coffee events to allow Indigenous businesses to network; and cultural and educational events for the public that run throughout the year.
“Last month, council hosted a traditional Kupmurri cooking demonstration at a free community open day at Harding’s Paddock, with First Nations cultural practitioners cooking at a newly constructed permanent Kupmurri cooking (camp oven) facility.
“On 6 July, Ipswich Libraries will host Manamana Dreaming to help celebrate NAIDOC Week with an Indigenous-themed, family-friendly paint and sip event at 1 Nicholas Street (find out more at naidoc.org.au).
“These activities support the learning and appreciation of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and their strong connections to their culture, language and traditional lands, while also contributing to the environmental management, economic development and the cultural identity of our nation.”